Morro Bay, California
Morro Bay is a city of 10,692 people in San Luis Obispo County, California, founded in 1870.
Why visit Morro Bay
Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 70 places to eat, 40 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bay Theatre, Black Hill, Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and Morro Bay Landing.
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 72°F; December lows average 46°F.
Weather in Morro Bay
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Morro Bay
Morro Bay (Morro, Spanish for "Hill") is a seaside city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast of California, the town overlooks Morro Bay, a natural embayment with an all-weather, small-craft, commercial and recreational harbor.
From the Wikipedia article Morro Bay, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks13
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Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History
Museum · 1.9 mi
Natural history museum in Morro Bay, California
Nuestra Senora de Esperanza Landing historical marker
Monument and historic site
Morro Rock California Registered Historical Landmark
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
1 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes70
The Galley
Restaurant · Seafood · 0.4 mi
899 Embarcadero Road
Mo,We-Th,Su 11:30-20:00; Tu off; Fr-Sa 11:30-20:30
Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood
1245 Embarcadero Road, Morro Bay
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Tognazzini's Dockside Too
Restaurant · Seafood
1245 Embarcadero Road
Oct-Mar 10:00-18:00; Oct-Mar,Apr-Sep Fr,Sa 10:00-20:00; Apr-Sep 10:00-19:00
Mi Casa Restaurante Mexicano
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
650 Morro Bay Boulevard
Mo-Su 08:00-21:00
58 more on the map.
History
The prehistory of Morro Bay relates to Chumash settlement, particularly near the mouth of Morro Creek. At least as early as the Millingstone Horizon thousands of years before present, an extensive settlement existed along the banks and terraces above Morro Creek. A tribal site on present-day Morro Bay was named tsɨtqawɨ, Obispeño for "Place of the Dogs".
The first recorded Filipinos to visit America arrived at Morro Bay on October 18, 1587, from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza; one of whom was killed by local Native Americans while scouting ahead.
The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolá expedition, came down Los Osos Valley and camped near today's Morro Bay on September 8, 1769. Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespí noted in his diary, "we saw a great rock in the form of a round morro".
While governed by Mexico, large land grants split the surrounding area into cattle and dairy ranchos, which needed shipping to bring in dry goods and to carry their crops, animals, and other farm products to cities.
From the History section of Morro Bay, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay40
Churches and places of worship14
Estero Bay United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.7 mi
3000 Hemlock Avenue
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.0 mi
2080 Ironwood Avenue
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 1.0 mi
2060 Ironwood Avenue
Shopping21
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare2
Map of Morro Bay
194 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 46°F | 3.6 in | 0.1 in |
| Feb | 65°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 49°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 52°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 66°F | 54°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 67°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 70°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 54°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 69°F | 50°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 65°F | 46°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Morro Bay Fire Dept (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Luis Obispo County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-04-13: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
San Luis Obispo Regional Airport (SBP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Los Osos 5 mi southeast, about 8 min by car
- Atascadero 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- San Luis Obispo 13 mi southeast, about 21 min by car
- El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Grover Beach 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Arroyo Grande 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Nipomo 31 mi southeast, about 50 min by car
- Santa Maria 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Orcutt 43 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lompoc 54 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Morro Bay City 1, No machine-readable author provided. Kjkolb assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
- Morro Bay, CA Sandspit Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD), Saturday, September 17, 2011 12, Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0
- Morro Bay power plant by Don Ramey Logan, Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0
- U.S. Coast Guard Station Morro Bay - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Nycticorax nycticorax -Morro Bay, California, USA-8, Doom64 from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Nycticorax nycticorax -Morro Bay, California, USA-8 (2), Doom64 from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Nycticorax nycticorax -Morro Bay, California, USA-8 (1), Doom64 from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- USCG 47 foot search and rescue lifeboat in Morro Bay, California, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Morro Bay harbor patrol returns to mooring, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- USCG 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat-Morro Bay CA, User:McChizzle, Public domain
- Morro Bay Fish Company (4825032215), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Clarks Grebe in Morro Bay, CA 08 May 2007, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Morro Bay, CA, USA - panoramio (1), Bruce Peterson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Sun Rests Behind Morro Bay (28973630087), Clinton Steeds from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Morro Bay Maritime Museum, Morro Bay, California, September 2018, Hu Nhu, CC0
- Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0
- Danger (4824911289), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Morro Rock (with boat), Fietsbel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- No entry (4839731048), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- DSRV-2 Avalon, Tdrss, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leptopecten latiauratus 161205728, Cricket Raspet, CC BY 4.0
- United States Coast Guard (4833665677), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Triple pack (5236081090), Charles Nadeau from San Mateo, CA, CC BY 2.0
- Keep Out (4825022849), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- USCG 47 foot motor life boats CG-47280 CG-47231, Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0
- Sunset at Morro Rock - panoramio, Bruce Peterson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tognazzini's Dockside Too - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Morro Rock - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch 03, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Morro Rock - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch 02, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Morro Rock - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch 01, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Big Catch (4824920973), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Surprise! (6861102314), Dawn Beattie from Morro Bay, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Leptopecten latiauratus 161265449, Cricket Raspet, CC BY 4.0
- Give me half a day (4832374679), Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0
- Grassy Bar Oyster Co. - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch, Missvain, CC BY 4.0
- Ardea herodias5, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Aechmophorus occidentalis occidentalis, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Ardea herodias, Coleman Beach - by Mike Baird, Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Ardea herodias, Coleman Beach - by Mike Baird (cropped), Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sundown in the Harbor (28973621717), Clinton Steeds from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY 2.0
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